Batman
- He is the night...
Do I need to say Spoiler alert?
Batman, who art in Gotham cowled, be
thy mane.
For
many of us Geeks especially in the crowds I run with, have a special place in
our hearts for the Batman.
My love
of the Batman started at quite a young age watching the animated TV series on
a Saturday morning, or if I was lucky enough catching the odd episode
of the original Adam West Batman when it was on.
Then as
I grew older I was gifted the experience of the Tim Burton Batman movies, my
crush with the dark knight bloomed into a full blown love affair at this point.
I read what comics I could at friends’ houses or some that were bought with
pocket money.
Over
the years I have watched Batman movies enjoying them with each incarnation of
the Batman played by a variety of actors, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer &
George Clooney. Now to get off track for a moment I don't blame George Clooney
for what happened in Batman & Robin, It was the unfortunate combination which
led to its total camp existence.
Now
back to what this Blog tonight was supposed to be about, Batman and the
upcoming Batman Dark Knight Rises.
In 2005
Christopher Nolan stunned us all with Christian Bale in a very realistic Bat
suit, filled with Grit and lip smacking reality driven action. Nolan’s ability
to draw from the original cannon and comics with small nods, while setting Gotham
as a modern day city with real problems. This movie has all sorts of subtle fan
service which made this experience a wonderment to behold. Victor Zasz making a
guest appearance in this film, as well as introduction to Rhaz Al Ghul being
one of the Dark Knights greatest nemeses from the comics was excellent to see. I greatly enjoyed this film; in fact I will
probably watch it tonight after this post has been written.
In 2008 the Sequel the Dark Knight arrived and my goodness did it pack a
punch, with one of the best interpretations of the Joker and most of
us heralded heath ledgers performance as it was outstanding. The story in Dark
Knight leads us to a world where Batman has become more established, Gotham is
starting to heal. We were introduced to the Shining knight Harvey Dent who
quickly becomes co-protagonist with Batman. Tragedy and Triumph occur in this
film several times which Births Two Face. Each turn of this story is gritty and
deals with a great moral story based in choice.
Then at the end of the film Batman chooses to be thought of as the
villain, because he hopes that such an action will bring the people of Gotham
together, and fight crime day-in-day out with his intrusion.
Now The
Dark Knight Rises is coming out sometime this month, I have been pumped for
this film; I must have watched the trailer dozens of times, each time leaving
me chanting ”Matelo Matelo Bane Bane Matleo matleo Bane
Bane."
So I
ask myself this question, what should we be expecting in a now post Avengers
(Movie) World?
It
won't be the giddy escapist fun action adventure with Aliens invading
Manhattan, Avengers is the closest to a perfect comic book movie I have ever
seen. Batman Dark Knight Rises won't be anything like the Avengers and that's
ok by me.
Nolan’s vision for Batman has always been set in a realistic world,
skyscrapers, and a modern world with a modern world’s problems. Nolan’s
settings and themes have always been dark and of suffering, suffering created
the Batman so it is a major theme in the movies.
What has always made the Batman experience so defined for me, even so
far back as the comic books has been the Villains. Dark Knight Rises will
indeed focus on at least two villains Bane & Cat woman.
For a properly satisfying climax (As this is Christopher Nolan’s last
Batman Movie), Bruce Wayne has to be driven to the very breaking point of his
emotional, mental and physical endurance. Bane is perfect for this role...
Bane? Bane people ask? Isn't he a wrestler?
To which I respond, No... Bane is one of the most menacing
and brilliant foes Batman has ever encountered
Bane is very combat capable, but he is more than a physical challenge to
the Dark Knight, he is a strategist and plays many games to outwit and
out manoeuvres Batman.
Whatever nefarious schemes Cat woman and Bane have planned for the Bat,
I am looking forward to July 20th.
I'll let you know what I think after I see it on July 21st...
